SUV Plunges Into Pond on Highway 20, Two Escape Unharmed

A vehicle overshot a sharp right turn on Highway 20 at Keystone Avenue on December 20 and crashed into a man made pond, where it sank after two passengers escaped to shore. Local emergency crews and bystanders warmed the passengers until rescue responders arrived, and the vehicle was recovered the next day by Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife divers.

James Meek, deputy chief of Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue, said witnesses described the vehicle as having “just shot straight into the pond,” and estimated the pond could be up to 60 feet deep. Bystanders helped the occupants swim to shore and begin warming up prior to rescue crews arrival. Once the passengers were out, the vehicle sank out of sight.

Divers returned the following day, hooked the submerged vehicle to a rig and towed it out with cables. Meek said the SUV likely sustained front end damage and, after more than a day in brackish water, will be written off as a total loss. Photos from the scene show the wrecked vehicle and recovery efforts along the pond edge.

The location has a history of traffic incidents, and both Meek and nearby resident Mel Nasby urged additional safety measures. Meek suggested improved signage or a guardrail could reduce future incidents, noting that the speed limit drops sharply ahead of the turn. Nasby recalled previous crashes at the same spot and called for flashing signs or guardrails to help prevent similar accidents.

For Island County residents, the crash highlights public safety and budget trade offs. A single rescue and recovery can involve multiple agencies and equipment, and a written off vehicle after submersion adds salvage and environmental concerns. Installing guardrails or flashing beacons carries upfront cost for county or state transportation budgets, yet those investments can reduce emergency response frequency and the economic disruption caused by crashes.

Local transportation authorities will face decisions about whether to add physical barriers or upgraded signage at the intersection. In the interim, the incident has renewed community attention on a turn that residents say has posed a recurring danger for drivers.